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Introduction: School Health Service (SHS) is one of the five main components of the School Health Programme aimed at ensuring every child remains healthy to benefit maximally from his/her education. This study aimed to assess the level of implementation of SHS in primary schools in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out in primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council using a weighted School Health Service assessment checklist. Results: a total of 146 primary schools were studied. Ninety-five (65.1%) of the schools had no health personnel. First aid was offered by 129 (88.4%) of the schools for medical emergencies. All schools sent children with communicable diseases home. None of the public schools assessed had an ambulance or a sickbay. A total of 44 (30.1%) schools, made up of 8 (20.0%) public and 36 (34.0%) private schools, attained the acceptable minimum score of 19. The mean scores on school health services by the private and public schools were 16.31±3.96 SD and 16.23±2.87 SD respectively out of the attainable maximum score of 45 (t=0.145, p=0.885). Conclusion: the level of implementation of SHS in Gwagwalada Area Council is inadequate though with a slightly better situation in the private schools. For more effective SHSs in the study area, there is the need for the provision of sufficient human resources and facilities by stakeholders in Gwagwalada Area Council primary schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality healthcare delivery is imperative for sustainable socio-economic development and poverty reduction in any nation. It is a function of timely access to relevant and accurate patient health information by physicians, error-free prescription and medication, and the seamless transfer of patients from one level of care to another. However, the quality of healthcare delivery by physicians in Nigerian hospitals falls short of international best practices. The study investigated the influence of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) use on quality healthcare delivery by physicians in tertiary hospitals in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population consisted of 610 physicians from the level of Registrar to that of Consultant in the three Federal Tertiary Hospitals located within the FCT. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 390 physicians (Registrars-Consultants) across all departments. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.89 to 0.98. The response rate was 99.5%. Data were analyzed using inferential (correlation, simple and multiple regression) statistics. Findings showed weak but significant relationships between quality healthcare delivery and Health Information Exchange (r(388)=.240, p<0.05), Computerized Physician Order Entry (r(388)=.173, p<0.05) and Clinical Decision Support (r(388)=.277, p<0.05). The study concluded that EHRs use contributes to quality healthcare delivery by physicians in tertiary hospitals in FCT, Nigeria. Therefore, the legislative arm of the government should enact a law on the adoption, implementation and use of electronic health records in the nation's tertiary hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality healthcare delivery is imperative for sustainable socio-economic development and poverty reduction in any nation. It is a function of timely access to relevant and accurate patient health information by physicians, error-free prescription and medication, and the seamless transfer of patients from one level of care to another. However, the quality of healthcare delivery by physicians in Nigerian hospitals falls short of international best practices. The study investigated the influence of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) use on quality healthcare delivery by physicians in tertiary hospitals in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population consisted of 610 physicians from the level of Registrar to that of Consultant in the three Federal Tertiary Hospitals located within the FCT. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 390 physicians (Registrars-Consultants) across all departments. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.89 to 0.98. The response rate was 99.5%. Data were analyzed using inferential (correlation, simple and multiple regression) statistics. Findings showed weak but significant relationships between quality healthcare delivery and Health Information Exchange (r(388)=.240, p<0.05), Computerized Physician Order Entry (r(388)=.173, p<0.05) and Clinical Decision Support (r(388)=.277, p<0.05). The study concluded that EHRs use contributes to quality healthcare delivery by physicians in tertiary hospitals in FCT, Nigeria. Therefore, the legislative arm of the government should enact a law on the adoption, implementation and use of electronic health records in the nation's tertiary hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass migration that occurred during 2009-2013 and after the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria could have increased malaria incidence and Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity in North Central Nigeria. To determine P. falciparum sequence diversity in this region, we screened 282 samples collected in regional clinics during 2015-2018 for Plasmodium spp. and, with positive samples, determined P. falciparum infection complexity and allele diversity using PCR. Of 34 P. falciparum-positive samples, 39 msp1, 31 msp2, and 13 glurp alleles were detected, and 88% of infections were polyclonal. We identified trimorphic and dimorphic allele combinations in a high percentage of samples, indicative of a high infection complexity in the study population. High genetic diversity is a catalyst for the evolution of drug-resistant alleles. Improved measures (e.g., better drug quality, diagnostics) are needed to control P. falciparum transmission and reduce the potential for the emergence of drug resistance in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In developing countries, biological contaminants largely bacteria and other parasites constitute the major causes of food-borne diseases often transmitted through food, water, nails, and fingers contaminated with faeces. Accordingly, food-handlers with poor personal hygiene could be potential sources of infections by these micro-organisms. Objective: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and pattern of bacteria and intestinal parasites among food handlers in the Federal Capital Territory. Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive one in which a multistage sampling technique was employed to select 168 food handlers of various types. Subjects' stool, urine, and fingernail analyses were carried out and the result scientifically scrutinized. Results: Fingernail bacteria isolates include: E. Coli (1.8%), coagulase-negative staphylococcus (17.9%), Staphylococcus aureus(7.1%), Klebsiella species (2.4%), Serratia species (1.2%), Citrobacter species (1.2%), and Enterococcus species (1.8%). The subjects' stool samples tested positive: For A. lumbricoides (14.9%), T. trichuria (1.8%), S. starcolaris (3.0%), E. histolytica (10.7%), G. lambilia (1.8%), S. mansoni (1.2%), and Taenia species (4.8%). Furthermore, 42.3% and 15.5% of the stool specimen tested positive for Salmonella and Shigella species, respectively. Conclusion: Food establishments should screen and treat staff with active illness, and regularly train them on good personal and workplace hygiene practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]